What's New
Family Justice Center Opens
Bay Area Legal Services is one of the partner agencies working together to create the Hillsborough County Family Justice Center, which is a one-stop shop for domestic violence victims. Located at 9309 N. Florida Ave., Suite 109, Tampa, FL. Hour s of operation Monday - Thursday 8am - 8pm, Friday 8am - 5pm. Website www.fjchc.org. One of only 15 sites nationwide funded under the President's Family Justice Center Initiative, the Hillsborough County Family Justice Center's mission is, "To improve the lives of family violence victims through community collaboration and the provision of comprehensive services in a single location." The agencies which will have staff on site to provide services to domestic violence victims include the following: The Spring of Tampa Bay, The State Attorney's Office, The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the Family Advocacy Program of MacDill AFB, Hillsborough County Social Services, Bay Area Legal Services, and approximately 20 other agencies. There will also be a satellite office in Plant City and at one other location yet to be finalized. The Family Justice Center has helped 331 families in just over a month.
Children's Advocacy New Program
In an effort to assist more families Bay Area has established the Attorney Ad Litem Program. The Florida Bar Foundation and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County have funded Bay Area Legal Services to provide representation of foster care children ages birth through 5 and their siblings. Our representation will focus on reducing the time that children are in the foster care system; increase permanency through reunification and long term placements; and expedite adoptions. The Program will also provide training, co-counseling and mentoring opportunities for Hillsborough County pro bono attorneys as attorneys ad litem. Attorney Rebecca Bell has been selected as the Program’s first Attorney Ad Litem. The new name is: Children's Law Center of Bay Area Legal Services. Click here for brochure.New Public Guardian Program
Bay Area Legal Services will provide legal representation to the public guardian for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. We are working together with Aging Solutions Inc. to provide guardianship services to seniors with limited financial means, who have no family or friends to act as guardians.
